Lloyds Banking Group reported its statutory profits rose by 158 per cent and promised to hand back £2.2 billion to shareholders in ordinary and special dividends.  The majority of its net profit was due to fines over misconduct issues costing just £2.1 billion in 2016, down from £4.8 billion in 2015 as a result of the smaller compensation and fines bill, statutory profit to £4.2 billion, The Times points out. A. Michelle McGrade of TD Direct Investing summed up the mood of many analysts, observing that Lloyds was becoming "a lean, mean dividend-making machine for years to come". Peer to peer lender Marketlend said it had appointed Brad Pattelli as a director. He is the former President of LC Advisors, a subsidiary of Lending Club. Prior to joining Lending Club, Pattelli was a partner at Angelo, Gordon & Co, a New York registered investment advisor with US$26 billion funds under advice, specialising in alternative investments.